4 Republicans and 4 Democrats vote against selling seized Russian assets to fund Ukraine

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Lend-Lease Act

The House on Thursday passed a bill that clears bureaucratic hurdles to loan defensive military equipment to Ukraine, sending it to Biden’s desk. S. 3522, known as the Ukraine Democracy Defense Lend-Lease Act, waives requirements to ensure that shipments of urgently-needed weapons systems, ammunition, and military assistance reach Ukraine faster and more seamlessly.

The only votes against the Lend-Lease Act were Republicans:

  • Andy Biggs (AZ)
  • Dan Bishop (NC)
  • Warren Davidson (OH)
  • Matt Gaetz (FL)
  • Paul Gosar (AZ)
  • Marjorie Taylor Greene (GA)
  • Tom Massie (KY)
  • Ralph Norman (SC)
  • Scott Perry (PA)
  • Tom Tiffany (WI)

Ukrainian religious freedom

The Ukraine Religious Freedom Support Act passed the House on Wednesday, reaffirming Congress’ support for designating Russia as a violator of “religious freedom in the sovereign territory of Ukraine that Russia illegally occupies or controls”.

According to the Department of State’s International Religious Freedom Reports, and other reporting, violations of religious freedom in the Crimea region of Ukraine since Russia invaded and occupied the territory have included abduction, detention and imprisonment, torture, forced psychiatric hospitalizations, fines, restrictions on missionary activities, confiscations of property, including churches and meeting halls, expulsions and obstructions to reentry, denying registration of religious groups, vandalism, fines, and banning peaceful religious groups, and targeted groups have included Muslim Crimean Tatars, the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, formerly the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kyivan Patriarchate, the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, Protestant Christians, and Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Four lawmakers voted against the bill: Republicans Marjorie Taylor Greene (GA) and Tom Massie (KY), and Democrats Sean Casten (IL) and Sylvia Garcia (TX).

Asset seizure

On Wednesday, the House passed a bill urging President Biden to seize assets from sanctioned Russian oligarchs and send the proceeds to Ukraine. H. R. 6930, called the Asset Seizure for Ukraine Reconstruction Act, dedicates the funds to weapons for Ukraine, humanitarian assistance, and post-conflict reconstruction, among other purposes.

Four Democrats and four Republicans voted against the measure:

  • Democrats: Cori Bush (MO), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY), Ilhan Omar (MN), and Rashida Tlaib (MI).
  • Republicans: Madison Cawthorn (NC), Marjorie Taylor Greene (GA), Tom Massie (KY), and Chip Roy (TX).

The lawmakers who opposed the bill did not respond for comment on their reaso

Some of the lawmakers who voted no explained their votes:

Asked for explanation on his vote, Massie told The Hill that “giving Joe Biden unilateral authority to seize property in the United States without any due process sets a dangerous and disturbing precedent.”

Tlaib appears to have a similar mindset. Denzel McCampbell, a spokesperson for Tlaib’s office, told The Hill that while the congresswoman supports sanctioning Russian oligarchs in the wake of Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine and seizing assets acquired through corruption, “she does oppose allowing our government to unilaterally seize people’s assets with no legal process.”…

A spokesperson for Ocasio-Cortez’s office argued in a statement to The Hill that the bill would compel Biden to violate the Fourth Amendment by seizing private property, then allow him to determine where it goes without due process. She said the terms would set a “risky new precedent.”

“Oligarchs should suffer huge financial losses, which is why the Congresswoman participated in designing and voted for the toughest sanctions in recent memory. But this vote asked President Biden to violate the 4th Amendment, seize private property, and determine where it would go – all without due process,” the spokesperson said.

Russia’s influence

A bill sponsored by House Foreign Affairs Chairman Gregory Meeks (D-NY) to require the government to address Russia’s influence in Africa passed the chamber on Wednesday. H. R. 7311 directs the Secretary of State to “evelop and submit to Congress a strategy and implementation plan outlining United States efforts to counter the malign influence and activities of the Russian Federation and its proxies in Africa”. This includes “strengthen[ing] democratic institutions” and “monitor[ing] and report[ing] on Russian political influence and disinformation operations and the activities of Russian, Russia-connected, or Russian-funded private military contractors in Africa.”

All members of the House voted in support of H. R. 7311 except nine Republicans:

  • Andy Biggs (AZ)
  • Lauren Boebert (CO)
  • Kat Cammack (FL)
  • Louie Gohmert (TX)
  • Paul Gosar (AZ)
  • Marjorie Taylor Greene (GA)
  • Debbie Lesko (AZ)
  • Tom Massie (KY)
  • Chip Roy (TX)

Moldova

17 House Republicans voted against a measure “[e]xpressing support for Moldova’s democracy, independence, and territorial integrity and strengthening United States and Moldova relations.”

Moldova borders Ukraine and risks being pulled into Russia’s war. Transnistria, located in eastern Moldova, is an unrecognized breakaway state controlled by pro-Russian forces. Until recently it has been largely conflict-free. That ended earlier this week when two radio towers and a military unit were struck by explosives. Moldova’s president, Maia Sandu, blamed the attacks on the separatist groups and said her government would resist “attempts to drag Moldova into actions that may endanger peace within the country.”

All but 17 Republicans voted against the resolution:

  • Andy Biggs (AZ)
  • Dan Bishop (NC)
  • Lauren Boebert (CO)
  • Madison Cawthorn (NC)
  • Michael Cloud (TX)
  • Andrew Clyde (GA)
  • Paul Gosar (AZ)
  • Marjorie Taylor Greene (GA)
  • Andy Harris (MD)
  • Jody Hice (GA)
  • Clay Higgins (LA)
  • Tom Massie (KY)
  • Troy Nehls (TX)
  • Ralph Norman (SC)
  • Scott Perry (PA)
  • Chip Roy (TX)
  • Greg Steube (FL)

Georgia

The House also voted on a similar bill to support the “independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of Georgia,” parts of which are still under Russian military occupation.

19 Republicans and one Democrat (Rep. Cori Bush) voted against the measure:

  • Andy Biggs (AZ)
  • Dan Bishop (NC)
  • Lauren Boebert (CO)
  • Mo Brooks (AL)
  • Madison Cawthorn (NC)
  • Michael Cloud (TX)
  • Louie Gohmert (TX)
  • Bob Good (VA)
  • Paul Gosar (AZ)
  • Marjorie Taylor Greene (GA)
  • Jody Hice (GA)
  • Debbie Lesko (AZ)
  • Tom Massie (KY)
  • Barry Moore (AL)
  • Ralph Norman (SC)
  • Scott Perry (PA)
  • Matthew Rosendale (MT)
  • Chip Roy (TX)
  • Greg Steube (FL)